Leicester City 1 – 1 Everton
Well, that was some extended weekend.
Thursday, we put my wife’s ashes to rest in the West Midlands.
Friday, the boy dog died. He was called Rorke, after Rorke’s Drift given the southern African origin of the Rhodesian Ridgeback. The vet came around to confirm what I knew, and then he gave me one final send-off. Lifting a dead weight to send him off for cremation. Thank you, blue Rorke!
Saturday, off to Leicester. As is usually the case, weekend engineering works, so I had to improvise to get to Euston, which was full of Kopites, presumably travelling up for a “home” fixture. I just ignored them. I had to go to Euston and get to Leicester via Birmingham because of more engineering works and I couldn’t be doing with replacement buses from Bedford. It was actually quite straight-forward.
Anyway, onto the match. We played well and it was mostly a good performance. The shoots of recovery are there, and I saw enough to see we can turn the corner.
Ndiaye was great. What a goal. There is always something special when a shot goes in off the post. Great strike. I know he causes angst when named in the team, but what a through-pass from Ashley Young to set him up. It shows the difference when players have confident, willing runners in front of them.
Both Lindstrom and Calvert-Lewin could have sealed it. Is it me, or does Dominic shoot too low? Get some air on the ball and get it over the keeper in those one-on-one situations.
Strange substitutions. I didn’t understand why the manager took off two of our most attacking threats, keeping Leicester on the back foot. All that happened is we invited them on. Michael Keane can’t be at fault for their leveller as there were many culprits. He had to defend and gave away the corner. However…
For their equaliser, as a former defender, the defence was static and seemingly ball-watching. No one took responsibility. And Jordan was rooted to his goal line. In fact they all were. Take control, claim it or punch it, even if that means going through one of your own players to get the ball away from the danger area.
The weather was atrocious. As I left, it was still pouring and the streets were flooded. My socks and shoes were drenched. I stopped for some food at one of the vans. The very kind lady told me to come inside, which was as a nice gesture.
Off to the station. Uber wasn’t having it, so I had to roam and find a taxi rank and get more wet. The taxi driver wanted cash. Now I don’t carry too much cash these days. I had a fiver on me. Now given I’d only paid £6 total to get to the ground, he took my fiver and then charged me £6 extra on my card.
I managed to get back to my local in time for a nightcap, which the manager paid for. I think he feels sorry for me. Still drenched, but I eventually dried out.
In summary, we could have and should have won that. But we’re off the mark and have a point. In different circumstances, an away point would be welcome.
Well done to all the blues who followed, wherever you were.
Man of the Match: Only one contender for me, Ndiaye. We’ve picked up a gem there.
I’ll be up next weekend for Palace and staying over as we are laying my grandmother’s stone at Allerton cemetery as she has been laid in a pauper’s grave since the ’60s.
Excuse the pun: it never rains, it pours. What a month.
Come on, Everton, give us that win.